For one, there is the political problem caused by the existence of far-right elements in the government which even the most self-deluding cannot ignore, the damaging exposure of the administration and the upheaval in PASOK – which to avoid its complete collapse is demanding changes that amount to the reversal of central decisions made by Mr Samaras. Further damaging revelations about the government’s handling of the Golden Dawn case (both in terms of links between the Prime Ministers circle and the party’s MPs and potential interference in the justice system by ministers) cannot also not be ruled out, with Golden Dawn MPs claiming that they have more recorded conservations which will be released ‘when the time is right,’ according to GD spokesperson Ilias Kasidiaris.
However the prospect of elections is also further raised by the prevalent atmosphere, political and economic, which prime ministerial aides are assessing not only for its potential risks, but also potential opportunity due to the positive financial momentum (spreads), the political support which may be offered internationally as well as the fact that SYRIZA has not achieved a lead convincing enough to put it in a position to drive developments.
That the government is still in a position to impose an agenda, allows for a number of interpretations and leads to a range of options. But it is certain that if the government follows its current trajectory, it will struggle to pass whatever measure is demanded of it in the coming months when it has already suffered losses from the recent passage of the omnibus bill containing the measures demanding by the country’s lenders.
“No matter how we look at the issue we see one solution and ten problems. You go to the polls not only when you have a clear lead but also when you are at an impasse.”
According to today’s frontpage of the Eleftherotypia newspaper, “Four successive developments yesterday revived the scenario that national elections will be conducted together with the European and local elections: the accelerated push to return to the markets, the provision in the draft law for the election of MEPs which states that in the event that national elections coincide with European elections, then the voting will take place at the same polling stations, the revelation from MP Zoe Konstantopoulou that the Interior Ministry ordered another 30,000 ballot boxes, and finally the statement from the Interior Minister Leonidas Grigoropoulos that in light of developments national elections cannot be ruled out.”
The question now is to elucidate which of these are not related to a potential plan including national elections.
What Samaras and Venizelos discussed
‘A forward escape with the economy as a vehicle,” is what Antonis Samaras and Deputy PM Evangelos Venizelos decided in their morning meeting in the prime ministerial mansion.
Coworkers of the two leaders communicated the sentiment that, ‘the Baltakos case will soon be forgotten.’ and that the turbulent atmosphere created for the government will be cleared with ‘good’ news over the economy and the emergence of the country from the crisis.
For now, the government will accept SYRIZA’s proposal for parliament to discuss in the coming days the handling of Golden Dawn and the independence of the justice system.
It will soon be clear as to whether the moves made by Samaras and Venizelos will be successful in containing the crisis, and whether they intend to move towards elections.